An Octant is a doubly reflecting navigation instrument used primarily by sailors to measure the angular distance between two visible objects and was a forerunner of the sextant. The name comes from the Latin octo, or "one-eighth of a circle," for the Octan'ts arc which spans 45°, or one-eighth of a circle. The primary use of an Octant is to measure the angle between an astronomical object and the horizon for celestial navigation. The estimation of this angle, is known as sighting or shooting the object, or taking a sight. The angle, and the time when it was measured, can be used to calculate a position line on a nautical chart (latitude), for example, sighting the Sun at noon or Polaris at night (in the Northern Hemisphere) gives an angle by which the latitude can then be estimated. Sighting the height of a landmark on land can also give a measure of distance. This fine octant once belonged to Captain Farquhar Chisholm and was donated by his granddaughter, Margaret Ruth Greer (nee Chisholm, born 1914). The label inside the Octant's box reads “Thomas L. Ainsley, Instrument Maker … etc”. Farquhar Chisholm was born in 1832 in Inverness, Scotland. He regularly sailed on perilous voyages between Quebec, Canada and the Baltic ports of Europe. In 1854 he migrated to Australia during the Gold Rush, to a place called Fiery Creek (near Beaufort Victoria) where he was fairly successful in his quest for gold. In the years of the Great Gold Rush, it was said that there were over 40,000 diggers in the goldfields of the Beaufort area! In 1857 having made sufficient money, he hired another crew and returned to Clachnacuddin, Inverness shire, Scotland and in that same year, he studied and obtained his Master Mariner Certificate (which would have included the use of an octant for navigation). He was appointed to Mr George (or James) Walker, as commander of his sailing ship, the 3-masted ELIZABETH, built 1859 and known as “The Walker barque”. In 1870 he married, then in 1887 returned to Australia with his wife and children (Kenneth Chisholm (1871), Mary Bremner Chisholm (1873), Margaret Hood Chisholm (1874), Farquhar Chisholm (1878)). They arrived in Port Melbourne, Victoria and sadly, only six weeks after landing, his wife Caroline passed away (in Geelong,1888). In 1900 Capt. Chisholm lived in Camperdown (Victoria) and not long after this his daughter Margaret died of consumption. In his later years, he went to live in the manse of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Wangaratta, with his son, Rev. Farquhar Chisholm. He died there on Sat, 23rd March 1912, 80 years old. He was known as “… quiet, unobtrusive and competent, respected by all with whom he came in contact”. Some other members of Captain Chisholm’s family are; his older son Kenneth Chisholm, who was a contractor in Camperdown; a nephew Donald Macintosh (of 23 Douglas Row, Inverness); a grandson Brian Jones (son of Caroline Belle-Jones nee Chisholm, who lived in Camperdown in the earlier part of her life).The octant, the forerunner of the sextant, was a significant step in providing accuracy of a sailors latitude position at sea & his vessels distance from land when taking sightings of land-based landmarks.Octant, once belonging to Captain Farquhar Chisholm. Wedge shape (the size of an eighth of a circle), made of wood, glass and metal. Used in the 1880s. Maker’s name across centre “L. SIMON - - - SHIELDS”. Three (3) light filtering, coloured glass shades. Two (2) eyepieces. Scale attached for measuring angles. Label inside the fitted, wedge-shaped case "Thomas L. Ainsley, Optician"Label inside case "Thomas L. Ainsley, Optician" Maker’s name across centre “L. SIMON - - - SHIELDS”.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, maritime navigation, navigation instrument, migration, captain chisholm, farquhar chisholm, sailing ship, the elizabeths, thomas l. ainsley, l. simons, shields england, octant, john hadley, chisholm

B&W Class photo in front of Winngton Grammar School, 35 Ringwood St, Ringwood. Handwritten on reverse: 1931, term 3. Back Row: Helen Newell, Joyce Covell, June Miles, Majorie Palmer 2nd Row: Doug? Lucas, ? , Frances Gowland, ? , Leila Bielby, Margaret Barrett, Pat Court, Mary Cheong, Meriel Wilmont, Phyllis Prior, Margaret Douglas, ? , Phyllis Holder, John Covell 3rd Row: Keith Hewitt, ?Gordon?, Peter Cheong, ? , Pat Hewitt, ? , Meryl Lucas, Nancy Newell, ? , Winsome, ? , Jack Nethercote, Gordon?, Peter? Cheong, Jack Miles Front Row: ? , Cliff Bielby, Joan Court, ? , Dorothy Nethercote, ?

Tait collection: item 57 of 62 This document gives details of the Will and Probate of Thomas Sleeman, a Nirranda farmer. He died in 1900 at the age of 85 and left real estate to the value of £600. The main beneficiaries were his sons and £30 was left to Mary Le Couteur, his daughter. He also bequeathed to the Wesleyan Church the half acre of land that the church was on at that time (presumably in the Nirranda district). The document has been drawn up by the law firm of O’Mahony and Murray which operated in Warrnambool early in the 20th century. The document has been passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street and located there in 2014 in the same building, the premises last occupied by the law firm of Mackay Taylor. This document is of some interest as it gives details of the Will and Probate of Thomas Sleeman, a farmer from Nirranda.This is a piece of white paper folded in two to make four pages. Three of the pages are ruled with blue lines and have margins ruled in blue. There is handwritten material on three pages. A seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with green ribbon and there are nine red stamps of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court and one purple stamp of the Savings Bank (Head Office). The document is a little stained and the writing is fading but legible. The document gives details of the Will and Probate of the Nirranda farmer, Thomas Sleeman who died in September 1900. In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria in its Probate Jurisdiction in the Will and Codicil of Thomas Sleeman late of Naranda in the County of Heytesbury in the Colony of Victoria farmer deceased.o’mahony and murray, warrnambool lawyers, thomas sleeman, warrnambool history, tait collection, nirranda

Clifton Banks is the name given to a bank on the Hopkins River Estuary, about one kilometre upstream from Proudfoots Boathouse. It is at the foot of the property, Clifton, which dates from 1850s. There are several works of art and photographs of Clifton Banks dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Mary Norman (later known as Mary Norman=Bail) came to Warrnambool in 1901, residing with Canon and Mrs McGeorge. She studied art with Samuel Pearce Fuller and later taught art at Fuller's studio and at a local private school. She produced several seascapes and landscapes while she was in Warrnambool, leaving the town in 1905. She devoted the rest of her life to art as an artist and teacher. In 1922 she married Jess Bail. This art work of Clifton Banks won first prize at the 1902 Annual Ararat Art competitions. It was reported at the time that the work was not a copy but had been drawn from nature. The Warrnambool and District Historical Society has five of Mary Norman-Bail's art work.This is a most significant item as it is one of Mary Norman's art works and she was known in the early 20th century as a competent artist and a member of the Victorian Artists' Society. This art work also has historical significance as one of a number of Clifton Banks representations still surviving. Mary Norman also had an impact on the cultural life of Warrnambool during her short stay in the town. She also returned to teach in the town several times for short periods during the summer vacation times.This is a water colour mounted on art board and with a gilt framed and three outer layers of wooden gilded ornamental frames. The sides of the frames are broken in places and the guided material is somewhat discoloured. There are Les O'Callaghan handwritten notes and some typed material on the back giving information on Mary Norman and the art work. The back is sealed with pasted paper and there are both string and wire attached for hanging the pictureBack of art work: 'Diamond Bros, Photo Enlargers, Importers of Mouldings, Mounting Boards, Albums, Mirrors etc, Picture Framers. Mount Cutters and Plush Workers, Studio - 27 Bridge Road, Melbourne, Factory- 45 and 47 Duke Street, Richmond, Armstrong Street, Ballarat, Pirie Street, Adelaide, Brisbane, & Freemantle W.A.'mary norman, clifton banks, warrnambool

Clifton Banks is the name given to a bank on the Hopkins River Estuary, about one kilometre upstream from Proudfoots Boathouse. It is at the foot of the property, Clifton which dates from the 1850s. There are several works of art and photographs depicting Clifton Banks which date from the 19th and early 20th centuries. This oil painting is believed to be the work of Emma McGeorge, the wife of Canon Samuel McGeorge, the Vicar of Christ Church, Warrnambool form 1899 to 1905. It is surmised that Emma McGeorge was encouraged by the artist Mary Norman to take up painting as a pastime or to continue with her art interests. Emma McGeorge may have been a pupil of Samuel Pearce Fuller and Mary Norman. She was successful as an exhibitor and entrant in art exhibitions in Warrnambool in the early 1900s. She died in Warrnambool in 1933. This is a highly significant art work as it has artistic merit and is one of the depictions of Clifton Banks on the Hopkins River and so has historical value. It is an example of the high standard of art work that was being produced, especially by women, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Warrnambool. It was bought at an auction sale in Camperdown by Les O’Callaghan in 1997. This is an oil painting, probably by Emma McGeorge, on art board of Clifton Banks on the Hopkins River. It has a gilt wooden frame with multi-tiered highly-ornamented outer frames in a gold colouring. The lower frame is discoloured (perhaps by smoke from a fire place) and there is a small piece of wood missing on the lower frame. All the gilding is slightly discoloured. The back has been sealed with pasted paper and there are old tacks and old wire for hanging the picture. There is a label on the back from W. Hickford, the Warrnambool picture framer and handwritten information on the artist and the artwork by Les O’Callaghan.Front: ‘E.Mc.G.’ Back: ‘W. J. Hickford, Picture Dealer, Framer and Gilder, Liebig Street, Warrnambool, Mounting and Repairing, Old Frames Re-gilt, Oakley Printer’ ‘603’ clifton banks, emma mcgeorge, warrnambool, hopkins river estuary

The Uncounted Cost is one of a number of works written by Mary Gaunt. Her other works include, Alone in West Africa, A Woman in China, The End of the Earth, Kirkhams Find, The Moving Finger and Deadman’s. Mary was born at Indigo near Chiltern in 1862 and lived for many years in Ballarat where her father W.H. Gaunt was gold commissioner and later a judge. The original Gaunt family home was converted into St Patrick’s College. She married Dr Lindsay Miller and moved to Warrnambool and after his death in 1899 she embarked on her travels which took her to many parts of the world. She died in Cannes, France in January 1942.Mary Gaunt wrote over 25 novels, numerous travel books and many stories and articles. She had a strong link with Warrnambool and details of the district are included among her writings. She also wrote regularly in the early 1900’s for the Times in London on women issues. She was an independent thinker and worker. Blue hard cover with illustration in dark blue depicting one person sitting looking upwards to another person holding spear. 248 pages. Clementine E Coles written in black pen inside front cover. Dedication: To my friend Agnes Herbert. the uncounted cost, mary gaunt, alone in west africa, warrnambool

These shoes were worn by Mary Glass Cramond when she married James Dickson Jnr. in 1888 in the Presbyterian church in South Yarra Melbourne. Mary Cramond was the daughter of John Glass Cramond and his wife Frances. Her Scottish born father formed a partnership with James Dickson, also a Scotsman and founded the Cramond and Dickson store on the corner of Timor and Liebig streets Warrnambool which opened on 21st August 1865. The store closed in 1974. . James Dickson's parents were James and Susan. James Dickson was an original director of the Warrnambool Woollen Mill, an original guarantor and director of the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory. He also served on the committee of the Warrnambool Base Hospital for nearly fifty years and was a town councillor. The Store of Cramond and Dickson was one of the most important businesses ever to have been in Warrnambool. The marriage of the daughter and son of each of the founders was an important social and romantic event.A pair of cream satin covered lady's shoes with medium height heels. The toes are gently pointed and decorated with a bow and intricate glass,clear beading.The soles are leather. Both shoes are damaged as the satin is torn and shredded.6D small twelve pointed starshoes, cramond and dickson, warrnambool, cramond

This is a soft cover book of 304 pages. It has a blue cover with a black and white photograph of Mary Gaunt in an oval shape on the front cover. There is white lettering on the front cover and black lettering in an oval shape on the back cover. The book has an introduction, 35 chapters, acknowledgements, endnotes, a list of publications and an index. It has several illustrations, sketches, maps and black and white and colour photographs,non-fictionBiography of novelist and travel writer, Mary Gaunt (1862-1942)mary gaunt, australian literature, history of warrnambool

This DVD gives information about the Pye family. Thomas Pye came to Sydney as convict in 1837 and was assigned to work for Captain Sylvester Brown and came to the Port Philip district with his master. Sylvester's son, Thomas, travelled to the Western District in 1844 and took Thomas and his wife. Mary with him. Thomas Browne later wrote novels under the name of Rolf Boldrewood . In his book " Old Melbourne Memories " Thomas Pye is given the name Joe Burge. Thomas Browne established the property "Squattlesea Mere" and Thomas Pye and his family settled in Port Fairy and then in Bessiebelle. Today this little settlement has many Pye descendants. The other matter of interest is that Thomas Pye's son,Charles Pye, gained the Victoria Cross in India and is buried at Tower Hill. his DVD is of historical interest because it records the story of the Pye family in the Western District.This is a DVD with blue hand writing on the front and an accompanying sheet of paper showing an English country scene. It is enclosed in a plastic mesh envelope.TAPESTRY Our Pye Family history through all generations by Elizabeth Pye.pye family, warrnambool, captain sylvester brown, thomas browne, rolf boldrewood

This document shows that Mary Irwin of Peterborough, Victoria, died in April 1892 without making a will and the Letters of Administration were granted to her husband, William Irwin. However he died in 1901 without having fully administered Mary Irwin’s estate. In turn the estate administration was passed over to Charles McGillivray of Peterborough and one of Mary Irwin’s sons, William Irwin, residing in New Zealand. This document was drawn up in 1907, fifteen years after Mary Irwin’s death. She left property to the value of £100. No other details on Mary Irwin are available. Tait collection: item 11 of 62This document is of interest because it was drawn up by a local Warrnambool solicitor, Ernest Chamber. He had a practice in Kepler Street, Warrnambool with the known dates, 1897 to 1910, with other offices in Koroit and Port Fairy during the same time. His manager in Warrnambool was Thomas Goodall who appears to have passed this document on to lawyers continuing on in the Kepler Street premises until it was found in the building once used by the legal business of Mackay Taylor.This is a piece of parchment paper folded in two and written on the back and front in brown-coloured ink (perhaps originally black). There is a seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria attached with a green ribbon and three red stamps of the Master in Equity in the Supreme Court. Apart from some yellow staining the document is in good condition.‘In the Supreme Court of Victoria in the Probate Jurisdiction in the unadministered Estate of Mary Jane Irwin, late of Peterborough in the County of Heytesbury in the State of Victoria, married woman, deceased intestate, Letters of Administration, de bonis non. I certify there is no duty or fee payable on these Letters of Administration, Dated 8th day of November 1907, Officer under Sec. 96 Act.1060, Extracted by E.J.W.Chambers, Proctor, Warrnambool’mary irwin, solicitor, warrnambool, peterborough, ernest chambers

Tait collection: item 16 of 62 This is the probate document for Harold Dawkins who died in 1898 in Warrnambool. He left no real estate but had personal estate to the value of £369. This was inherited by his widow, Margreta Mary Elizabeth Dawkins. Harold Dawkins’ father, William, established a timber business in partnership with George Hockley in the 1870s in Timor Street. The business was known as Dawkins and Son after 1890 and moved to the corner of Fairy and Lava Streets before again moving to the corner of Lava and Kepler Streets. In 1923 this business was taken over by the Ponting Brothers. Harold Dawkins, a carpenter and builder, married in 1884 and built a house at 68 Hyland Street (previously Nicol Street) which still stands. Harold died of typhoid fever when he was 37 and the family moved to Western Australia. This probate document was prepared by Ernest Chambers, a Warrnambool lawyer with offices in Warrnambool, Koroit and Port Fairy in the late 19th century and early 20th century. This document has been passed down by the successive lawyers occupying the Kepler Street building and was located in the old premises of the legal firm, now defunct, of Mackay Taylor. This document is of considerable interest because it contains information on Harold Dawkins, a resident of Warrnambool in the late 19th century and a member of a prominent Warrnambool family. It is also of importance because it was a document prepared by a local Warrnambool lawyer at that time. This is one sheet of parchment paper folded into two and with handwritten material on three sides. Three of the pages are edged with black lines. A seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria is attached with green ribbon and there is a red stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. ‘In the Supreme Court of Victoria in the Probate Jurisdiction in the Will of Harold Dawkins, late of Warrnambool, in the Colony of Victoria, carpenter, deceased – Probate. I certify that no duty is payable on the within probate. J. Poole, Officer under section 96 Act 1060, 7/4/98, E.J.W. Chambers, Proctor, Warrnambool’harold dawkins, ernest chambers, warrnambool, tait collection

Tait collection: item 29 of 62 This document contains information on the Will and Letters of Administration of James Jones, a gardener from Warrnambool. The document indicates that he died intestate in August 1896 at the age of 57 but details of a will are included in the document. The fact that this document was drawn up 14 years after his death indicates that there was a problem with the will. James Jones left real estate to the value of £80 and personal estate to the value of £10. The sole beneficiary was his widow, Mary Ann Jones. No other information has been found on James Jones. No Warrnambool lawyer is mentioned in this document but it was located at the former legal premises in Kepler Street of Mackay Taylor and passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society in 2014. It is presumed that it had been passed down to successive lawyers occupying the same building since 1910. This document is of interest because it contains information on the Will and Letters of Administration of a Warrnambool resident, James Jones. It will be useful for research.This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment paper (1910) folded in two with handwritten material on three sides. The first page has black printed material in script with the information filled in in black ink. It contains the information on the Will and Letters of Administration of James Jones, a gardener from Warrnambool. The paper is ruled on one side with black lines. The seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with green ribbon. One page is very stained. In the Supreme Court of Victoria; In the Probate Jurisdiction; In the Will and Estate of James Jones late of Warrnambool in Victoria Gardener deceasedjames jones, warrnambool, tait collection

Tait collection: item 33 of 62 This probate document gives details of the will of Thomas Smith, a farmer in the Wangoom district who was a pioneer settler, having arrived in the area about 1848. He erected the Shamrock Hotel in Dennington in 1868 and it was opened for business in 1869 with David Duffy as the first licensee. Thomas Smith was the licensee in 1870 and members of his family (Cornelius, Robert and Mary Smith) held the licence of the hotel until 1880. A codicil to the will gave Mary Smith, Thomas’ daughter, the hotel land and building. This hotel closed in 2011. Thomas Smith signed the original will with a cross (his mark). Other names mentioned in the probate document are Frederick Wilkinson, Master-in-Equity, Ernest Chambers, Solicitor, John Drayton, Clerk to E. Chambers, William Ardlie, Senior, Solicitor, Thomas Goodall, Clerk to William Ardlie, Richard Sheldrick, Clerk to William Ardlie, Walter Davies, Stationer.This is a significant document as Thomas Smith was a prominent owner of land, especially in the Dennington area. The Shamrock Hotel in Dennington was built by Smith and still owned by him when he died in 1880. The will gives important details of the estate of Thomas Smith and adds to our knowledge of his life and work. Document – Probate, 1880/1907 - the Will and Codicil of Thomas Smith, Farmer of Dennington The will has six ruled paper pages of typewritten material. Each page has printed ruled red lines top, bottom and sides and all are tied with green corded string. There are handwritten corrections and signatures, including those of Ernest Chambers, Solicitor of Warrnambool and John Drayton, Clerk to E. Chambers.Thomas Smith Shamrock Hotel, Dennington Ernest Chambers, Solicitor thomas smith wangoom 1848, shamrock hotel dennington, warrnambool history, thomas smith 1880

Tait collection: item 35 of 62 This is a document giving details of the Letters of Administration following the death of Alexander Gibson McPherson, a farmer of Rochester, Victoria, in December 1883. He died intestate and left an estate worth £215. The beneficiary was his sister, Mary Wright of Somerton. No other details are available on Alexander McPherson. The lawyer in the case was Ernest Chambers who had legal offices in Port Fairy, Warrnambool and Koroit at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This document was in his possession at his Warrnambool office and passed down to successive lawyers occupying legal premises in Kepler Street. The document was found in the same building, the former premises of the legal firm, Mackay Taylor, where it was located in 2014 and handed over to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society.This document is only of interest as being originally in the possession of Ernest Chambers, a lawyer who was in Warrnambool for several years at the end of the 19th century. No connection between Warrnambool and Alexander McPherson has been found. This is a cream-coloured sheet of parchment paper, folded twice. It contains hand written material in brown ink giving details of the Letters of Administration following the death of Alexander McPherson of Rochester in 1883. A seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with a green ribbon and it has ,a black stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court of Victoria. One page has been ruled at the edges with brown lines. The writing is somewhat faded but the document is legible. In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria in its probate jurisdiction in the Estate of Alexander Gibson McPherson late of Rochester in the Colony of Victoria Farmer a bachelor deceasedalexander mcpherson, ernest chambers, warrnambool, tait collection

Tait collection: item 40 of 62 This document gives the details of the Will and Probate of Edward Jones, an engine driver who died in Warrnambool in January 1895 at the age of 69. He had previously been a resident of Port Fairy. He left real estate to the value of £640 and personal estate to the value of £187. The beneficiaries of the will were his daughters, Margaret and Mary Jones. The lawyers connected with this document were Ernest Chambers and the legal firm of Fletcher and Mackay. Ernest Chambers had legal offices in Port Fairy, Koroit and Warrnambool at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century and the signatures of two of his law clerks, Thomas Goodall and John White are included in this document. James Fletcher had a legal office in Port Fairy and in Warrnambool in the 1870s and in Warrnambool in the 1880s (Koroit Street). In the late 1890s he commenced a partnership with George Mackay who had previously had his own practice in Warrnambool. In the 1920s the firm became known as Mackay and Taylor and later Mackay Taylor (Kepler Street). This document was in the possession of Ernest Chambers and was passed down to successive lawyers occupying the Kepler Street premises. It was located in 2014 with other documents in these premises last occupied by the firm of Mackay Taylor. This document is of some interest as it gives details of the Will and Probate of Edward Jones who had been a resident of Warrnambool in the late 19th century. It will be useful for researchers. This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment paper folded in two and containing handwritten material on three sides of the paper. It gives details of the Will and Probate of Edward Jones of Warrnambool who died in 1895. The pages have printed red lines on the edges of three pages. The written material is clean and readable.In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria In its Probate Jurisdiction in the Will of Edward Jones late of Warrnambool and formerly of Belfast in the County of Villiers in the Colony of Victoria Engine driver deceasedfletcher and mackay, lawyers,, warrnambool, ernest chambers,, edward jones, tait collection

Tait collection: item 43 of 62 This is a document giving details of the Letters of Administration of John Moloney, a farmer from Bushfield, who died in July 1897. He died intestate but had real estate to the value of £510 and personal estate to the value of £142. The beneficiary was his wife, Mary Ann Moloney. The lawyer involved in drawing up this document was William Ardlie, one of the best-known lawyers in Warrnambool in the 19th and 20th centuries. He commenced his business in the 1860s and continued on until the 1930s when he was well in his eighties, making him at the time the oldest practising lawyer in Australasia. The document seemed to have been passed down by successive lawyers occupying the Kepler Street legal premises and located there in 2014.This document is of some interest as it gives details of the Letters of Administration of John Moloney, a 19th century farmer from Bushfield and it also concerns the lawyer, William Ardlie, a prominent Warrnambool lawyer at that time. It will be useful for researchers.This is a piece of cream-coloured thin parchment paper folded in two. It has handwritten material on two pages (black ink) containing details of the Letters of Administration following the death of John Moloney of Bushfield in 1897. A seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with green ribbon and there is one red stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The document is somewhat dirty but quite legible. The numbers ‘255’ and ‘14’ are written in blue pencil on the back page. In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria In the Probate Jurisdiction In the Estate of John Moloney late of Bushfield in the Colony of Victoria Farmer deceased Intestatejohn moloney, warrnambool, william ardlie, bushfield, tait collection

This book, by the well-known author R.M.Ballantyne, was awarded to Edith Newton in 1877 when she was a pupil at the Warrnambool State School. This school was opened on August 1st 1876 when the National School in Warrnambool closed and most of the pupils of other denominational schools in Warrnambool at the time moved to the new State School. The Head Teacher, William Bryant was at the school until 1894. (Blanch) Edith Newton was born in 1868, the eighth child of Robert and Mary Newton. Robert Newton was a Rate Collector, Borough Inspector and Manager of the Town Common in Warrnambool. It is noted that the prize received by Edith Newton was an adventure book mostly appealing to male readers. This book is significant because it is connected with important elements in Warrnambool in 1877 – the school, Warrnambool State School, the pupil, Edith Newton and the Head Teacher, William Bryant,This is a hard cover book of 330 pages. It has a dark red cover with etched ornamental borders and patterns and an image of a jungle scene on the front cover and on the spine. The title and author’s name are in gold lettering. At the heading of each chapter there is an ornamental scroll and there are several black and white sketches throughout the pages. There are blue stamps of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society at the front and back of the book and a school plate label attached to the inside front cover. The spine is partly detached and torn and the cover is very worn and water or mould damaged. A letter from the donor accompanies the book. ‘Warrnambool State School, No. 1743, Prize Awarded to Edith Newton, 4th Class, Divn. 111, for Home Exercises, 19th December 1877, W.Bryant, Head Teacher.’ warrnambool state school, history of warrnambool, william bryant, edith newton

The original inscription in this Bible is interesting but no information has been found on Mary MacLeod or Hazel O’Moore-Skelly except to note that Eleanor Hazel Cameron, nee O’Moore-Skelly, (1914 -1989) is buried in the Allambie Park Cemetery, Albany. The Bible was given to Berenice Angus by Sister Ingpen of Warrnambool. The accompanying note that indicated that it came from Sister Ingpen is now missing. The later inscriptions indicate that Berenice Angus had this Bible in the early 1950s at her school in Geelong, ‘The Hermitage’. Sister Amy Ingpen (1878- 1965) was an important figure in Warrnambool’s history. She trained as a nurse and was said to be the first Victorian country nurse to qualify for the Midwifery Certificate. She initially assisted Dr Thomas Scott and later Doctor Gerald Baldwin at the ‘Alveston’ Private Hospital (corner Darling and Banyan Streets, Warrnambool). She then took sole control of the private hospital and ran this hospital for a great number of years, providing expert care for midwifery, surgical and medical cases. Berenice Angus (Berry McDade) is the daughter of Dr Roy and Gladys Angus. Dr Angus (1901-1970) came to Warrnambool in 1939 and practised at ‘Birchwood’ in Koroit Street and in later years as an ophthalmologist. This book is of interest because of its connection with Sister Ingpen, a prominent nurse in 20th century Warrnambool and the Angus family of Warrnambool. This is a black soft leather- covered Bible of 1208 pages. The cover extends over the edges of the pages. It has gold lettering on the spine and gold edging on the pages. The inside covers are black. The book has been silk bound but is now partly detached from inside the spine. Some pages are loose and have been mended with glue. Some of the pages have ink staining and the cover is worn with the top and bottom of the spine cover broken and torn. There is an inscription on the black inside cover and one of the first pages and a stamp from the Warrnambool & District Historical Society.‘Mary’ ‘Mary MacLeod with love from Hazel O’Moore-Skelly’ ‘When this you see, Remember me’ ‘Berenice Angus, 1952’ ‘Berenice Angus, The Hermitage, Geelong, 1952 (almost indecipherable) hazel o’moore-skelly, mary macleod, berenice mcdade (angus), dr angus, sister ingpen, history of warrnambool

This book belonged to Mary Norman- Bail (1883-1962). She came to Warrnambool in 1901 and studied art and became an art teacher and artist. She moved to Echuca and then Ararat where she set up a school called The Pathfinder. She became well known as an artist and exhibited her work in the Victorian Artists Exhibitions. In 1922 she married Jesse Bail and had one child named Jessica . Several of her paintings are in the Warrnambool and District Historical Society collection.This book is of considerable interest because of its connection to a Warrnambool artist.This a soft covered book of 88 pages. It has a blue cover with black printing and an image of a weaving loom. It contains printed material and many illustrations and diagrams. The Pathfinder School Ararat St. Andrew's M NORMAN - BAIL Principal and Proprietormary norman- bail, warrnambool

This book was given as a prize to William Giles in the late 19th century. It came from the Skiddaw Sunday (or Sabbath) School. Skiddaw was the home of the Batterbee family and was situated on the old Princes Highway in East Warrnambool near Simpson Street today. The corner here was known as ‘Batterbees Corner’ and there is a Skiddaw Street in the locality today. George Batterbee had a ham and bacon business in Warrnambool. For 36 years his wife, Mary, conducted a Sunday School at Skiddaw (from 1882 to 1918). This Sunday School was under the auspices of St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Warrnambool. Mrs Batterbee was assisted by her daughter Florinda and other teachers. Florinda and her brother Rex were both artists of note. William Giles and his family lived on the Allansford Road. The Logan family farm was in the vicinity of where Logans Beach is today. This book, though tattered and stained, is most important as the only item we have in our collection that is associated with the Skiddaw Sunday School. Situated in a family home, this Presbyterian-sponsored Sunday School operated for 36 years under the direction of Mary Batterbee. This is a book of 32 pages with the cover and perhaps some of the pages missing. It has been stapled but the staples have been removed. The book has large print and illustrations on all the pages. The illustrations have been coloured in by hand. The first page is loose and scribbled on. The pages are very stained and torn in places. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Skiddaw S. School, Second Prize, Awarded to William Giles for diligence in class, S. Logan, Teacher’. skiddaw, east warrnambool, batterbee family, giles family, logan family, history of warrnambool

This is a primer, or first reader, printed by the Victorian Government Printer for the Victorian Education Department. It has the name ‘Christina Giles’ and the date 1898 which is also the date of the publication of the book. Christina Giles was the seventh child of Henry and Mary Anne Giles and was born at The Maam, Wangoom. She died in 1899 at the age of seven from heart failure and kidney disease after a three months’ illness. The book would have been used at Wangoom State School. This school was established in 1865 as the Wangoom Common School No. 645. It is now closedThis book is of considerable interest as it is a reader produced for the Victorian Education Department in 1898. It has no overt Australian content but an illustration of a tram in the text has the wording ‘South Melbourne’ on it. It is also of interest as a school book used by Christina Giles in the year before her death.This is a soft cover book of 65 pages. The cover is black and may not be the original one as it has been roughly stitched on to the pages with thread and is much frayed. The text has many black and white illustrations and some of the pictures are torn with parts missing. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Christina Giles, 30/5/98’christina giles, wangoom state school, victorian school reader 1898

This is a school text book used at the Wangoom State School late in the 19th century by members of the Giles family. The Wangoom school was established in1865 as the Wangoom Common School No. 645 and later it became Wangoom State School. It is now closed. Allan and Christina Giles used this book and their home was on the Allansford Road. Christina Giles, the seventh child of Henry and Mary Jane Giles, was born at The Maam, Wangoom. She died in 1899 at the age of seven from heart failure and kidney disease after a three months’ illness.This book is of interest as it is an example of the reading books used in Victorian schools at the end of the 19th century. Royal Readers were introduced into Victorian school in the 1870s to replace the Irish Readers and continued to be used until the 1920s. They have no Australian content. The book is also of interest as it was used by Christina and Allan Giles, members of a family of early settlers in the Warrnambool district.This is a hard cover book of 188 pages. Some pages at the front and back of the book are missing. The cover (once blue?) has embossed lettering and ornamentation but mostly this is now indecipherable. The pages are partly detached from the cover. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. The text contains many illustrations and some of these have been hand-coloured and defaced. The first page has a mauve stamp of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. ‘Allan Giles, Wangoom State School No. 645’ (partly obliterated) ‘Christina G.’ christina giles, allan giles, wangoom state school

This school text book was used at the Wangoom State School by Henrietta Giles in the late 19th century. The Wangoom School was established in 1865 as the Wangoom Common School and later became the Wangoom State School. It is now closed. Henrietta Robina Victoria Giles was born in Woodford in 1881 to Henry and Mary Jane Giles, early settlers in the Warrnambool district. They lived on the Allansford Road.This book is of interest as an example of a school text book used in Victoria late in the 19th century. It is also of interest because it belonged to Henrietta Giles, a member of a family living in the Warrnambool district in the 19th century. This is a hard cover book of 70 pages. The cover is brown with embossed lettering and ornamentation on the front and back cover. It is much stained and splotched. The first page is torn at the edge and some of the other pages are dog-eared. The two inscriptions (identical) are handwritten in black ink.‘Henrietta R.V. Giles, Wangoom State School, No. 645’ wangoom state school, henrietta giles

Slate has been used for hundreds of years as a base for writing and many young students began their schooling using one to practise their writing. They had many advantages among them the fact that they were reusable and errors could be erased and corrected. A small duster or cloth was often attached for cleaning.This slate belonged to Olive Ardlie who was the daughter of Arthur Stanley Ardlie and Ethel Mary Lisburne (nee Ryan). They lived at "Aroona" 19 Princess St Warrnambool and Arthur worked as an accountant in his father's law firm. Olive was their eldest child and she died in 1912 at the age of 6. She was the granddaughter of William Ardlie one of Warrnambool's earliest residents and one of the state's longest serving solicitors . Olive had two sisters one of whom donated this slate. A common object with links to one of Warrnambool's oldest and well known families.Four sided slate with unpainted wooden frame. Hinged in the centre with metal hinges. Inside Olive Ardlie 13.2.1911 is written on the wood at the top of the frame.Olive Ardlie 13.2.1911 is written on the wood at the top of the frame.warrnambool, olive ardlie

This book was awarded in 1884 to Bessie McMahon from the Warrnambool State School. The teacher was Bella Davidson. Warrnambool State School No. 1743 in Jamieson Street, Warrnambool, was opened in 1876 and is still open today. Elizabeth Mary (Bessie) McMahon was the daughter of William and Mary McMahon of Glenrye, Warrnambool. Her father was a Warrnambool lawyer. Bessie McMahon married John Clarke of Garvoc. Isabella (Bella) Davidson was the daughter of John and Isabella Davidson of Rosebank near Woodford. She became a well-known teacher in Warrnambool, commencing as a pupil teacher in the Warrnambool National School (later Common School 646) and moving to the Warrnambool State School in Jamieson Street when it opened. She resigned in 1886 to open a private school in Koroit Street (known as Ellerslie College) and continued as the proprietor and Head Teacher until 1891. This book is of considerable importance because of its association with the Warrnambool State School early in its existence, with Bella Davidson, a noted Warrnambool educationalist of the 19th century and with Bessie McMahon, a member of a prominent family in 19th century Warrnambool.This is a hard cover book of 310 pages. The cover has a blue background with gold and black ornamentation and a gold shield. The shield contains an illustration of a girl lowering a bundle down from a window to a boy below. The lettering on the cover and spine is gold and the pages are gilt-edged. The cover is slightly stained. There are several full-page black and white illustrations scattered throughout the pages. The illustration at the front of the book is loose and the binding is partly detached from the spine. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Warrnambool State School 1743 Decem 1884 Prize Awarded to Bessie McMahon for highest marks in French Div 111 B. Davidson’ warrnambool state school, bella davidson, bessie mcmahon, history of warrnambool

This book was a prize awarded to Annis Morgan from the Woodford Presbyterian Sunday School. There is no date but the book was published in 1887. The Sunday Magazine was published each year in Britain as an Annual with short stories, poetry and articles, designed as suitable books for children to read on Sundays. Annis Morgan was born in Woodford to Jenkin and Mary Morgan in 1874. She would have been about 13 when she received this prize. Annis (Ann) Morgan married Alan Patterson in 1897. The Woodford Presbyterian Church was established in 1856 and administered at that time by the Warrnambool Presbyterian Church. In 1882 the Woodford and Grasmere Presbyterian Churches became a separate entity with the first Minister, the Rev. Robert Wilson Rock. This book is of interest as it is a good example of the type of book given as Sunday School prizes to young girls in the 1880s. It is also of significance as it belonged to a local girl, resident in Woodford in the late 19th century. This is a hard cover book of 848 pages. The cover is olive green and black with ornamental scrolls and borders and gold lettering on both the front cover and the spine. The pages are gilt-edged. The front cover is partly detached from the binding. The book has an index, short stories, Biblical papers, biographical, historical and missionary articles and poetry. There are many black and white illustrations and sketches throughout the text and, at the front of the book, there is a full page black and white illustration protected by a piece of tissue paper. The inscription is handwritten in black ink. ‘Woodford Pres. Sabbath School, Rev. R. W. Rock’s Class, First Prize Annis Morgan’. woodford presbyterian church, annis morgan, history of warrnambool

The contents of this display case are known as Princess Mary’s Christmas Fund 1914. In October 1914 Princess Mary, the 17 year-old daughter of King George V and Queen Mary, launched an appeal to raise funds to produce a Christmas present for every person serving in the British and Allied Forces in World War One. The Christmas box was a silver one for officers and a brass one for other ranks. The box usually contained a packet of cigarettes and tobacco, a Christmas card and a photograph of Princess Mary but some boxes contained confectionery, notebooks, pencils etc. By Christmas 1914 200,000 boxes had been distributed but it took until 1920 to dispose of the 2,500,000 boxes that were produced. Many of the boxes given to Australian servicemen have survived but few contain any or all of the contents. It is not known to whom this box was sent. This box and its contents are of great interest as an important memento of Australian participation in World War One. This is a rectangular brass tin and its contents – two yellow cardboard boxes which originally held cigarettes and tobacco, a Christmas card and a photograph of Princess Mary. The five items are displayed within a rectangular wooden box with a removable glass top. The brass tin is embossed with an image in the centre of Princess Mary surrounded by a laurel wreath. The embossing includes the letter ‘M’ (twice) and the names of some of the allies of Britain in World War One. Christmas Card: ‘With Best Wishes for a Happy Christmas and a Victorious New Year from The Princess Mary and Friends at Home’ Cigarettes and Tobacco Boxes: ‘Her Royal Highness The Princess Mary’s Christmas Fund 1914’. warrnambool and world war one, princess mary’s christmas fund 1914

This book was printed to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, 1887 (50th anniversary of her Coronation as Queen of England). John Markman is most likely the father or grandfather of Mary Snell (nee Markman). Mrs Snell was a teacher in Warrnambool and an active member of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society in its early years. She wrote the first book on the origin of street names in Warrnambool. Allendale is a small settlement in the Hepburn area of Victoria. This book is of minor interest as a memento of Queen Victoria’s 1887 Jubilee and as a book that appears to have come to the Historical Society via an early member, Mary Snell (nee Markman). This is a book of 240 pages. It has a black cover with the imprint on the front cover of a crown and shield and the words ‘The Queen’s Jubilee, 1887, Victoria’ and on the back cover a circular scroll with the words, ‘British and Foreign Bible Society, New Testament’. The cover has been bound with black tape and adhesive tape but the binding has come apart. Several pages are torn at the edges and dog-eared. ‘John Markman, Allendale, 17th June 1887’ Copy of Queen Victoria’s handwritten message - ‘On earth peace, goodwill toward men, Victoria, Windsor Castle, March 8,1887’ john markman, mary snell, history of warrnambool.

This book is a 1988 reprint of an 1897 novel by Mary Gaunt (1861-1942). She was an Australian writer of more than 20 novels and many travel books, short stories and magazine articles and achieved international recognition. The wife of Dr H.L. Miller, she lived in Warrnambool from 1894 to 1900. ‘Kirkham’s Find’ was written while she was in Warrnambool and is of particular local interest as it is partly set in an area that can be identified as Allansford. The novel outlines the difficulties faced by a woman in the 19th century if she wished to pursue a career and gives us a good description of 19th century rural Australia. Although it is only a reprint this novel is of some interest as it was written by Mary Gaunt, an Australian writer of considerable importance. As a one-time resident of Warrnambool and a writer using local places and situations in her stories, she has a place in Warrnambool’s history. This is a soft cover book of 340 pages. It has a purple cover with a reproduction of a 19th century painting on the front cover and material about the contents of the book on the back cover. The spine is an orange colour with black and white printing. The book has an introduction by Kylie Tennant, an afterword by Dale Spender and 29 chapters of a novel. mary gaunt, history of warrnambool, women in literature

This is a novel written by Mary Gaunt (1861-1942). She was an Australian writer who published over 20 novels, many travel books, short stories and magazine articles and achieved an international reputation as an author and intrepid traveller, especially in Africa and China. From 1894 to 1900 she lived in Warrnambool (she was married to Dr H. L. Miller) and continued to write while she was resident in the town, using local places and situations in some of her writings. This is a significant book as it is an original copy of one of Mary Gaunt’s novels. As a resident of Warrnammbool for some time and as a significant Australia author she has her place in Warrnambool’s history. The inscription in the book does not have any known significance. This is a hard cover book of 314 pages. The cover is light brown with black printing on the front cover and spine and an image of a tropical island scene on the front cover. There are a signature in black ink and an inscription in pencil on the first page. The cover is very stained and the spine has a number ‘46’ on white paper glued on. ‘Charles R. Boucher’ ‘Dec. 25 1928, Charley from Ethel and Forest’. ‘46’ mary gaunt, history of warrnambool, australian literature